Adjustable crimping tool

ABSTRACT

A crimping tool used with a crimping apparatus includes a first member having a die receiving portion, a second member being connectable with the first member, and wherein the crimping tool is removably coupled with the crimping apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a device for crimping a workpiece, and, moreparticularly, to a crimping tool for providing a pre-determined crimpeddiameter of the workpiece.

BACKGROUND

Crimping machines generally comprise a press, a die, and a die bowl, andare used in applications where an evenly distributed circumferentialforce is applied to a workpiece to reduce the workpiece's diameter byplastically deforming the radial circumference, such as, attaching acoupling to a hose.

The die is made with a plurality of die fingers radially disposed aroundthe workpiece. Each finger having an inside surface adjacent of theworkpiece and formed to define the workpiece's crimped shape. The die'souter surface is tapered and substantially matches the inside surface ofthe die bowl. The press comprises a ram to push the die through the diebowl, wherein a camming action of the matching surfaces forces the dieinward, thus crimping the workpiece evenly around the circumference.

The extent to which the workpiece is crimped is relative to theinsertion of the die in the die bowl. To control the insertion, priorart controls the stroke of the press either by adjusting the maximumstroke of the press or by the operator stopping the press at the rightdepth. This does not allow for consistence die insertion since theinsertion is a function of the stroke of the press and not a function ofthe depth of the die relative to the die bowl.

In order to crimp a variety of workpieces, such as various diameterhoses and different shaped and sized couplings, prior art machines useassortments of dies and die bowls. Having multiple dies and die bowlsincreases the likelihood that one might be lost or misplaced. Forportable machines, it is also important that the crimping machine beadaptive and provides flexibility in the field.

One known crimping apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,936,issued Feb. 7, 1978, to John Lionel Smith. It discloses a crimpingapparatus wherein the variation of the camming surfaces is provided bythreadably mounting the crimping ring (die bowl) to the chamber of ahydraulic pump, thus, rigidly mounting the crimping ring to thehydraulic pump.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of theproblems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment shown, a crimping tool used with acrimping apparatus includes a first member having a die receivingportion, a second member being connectable with the first member, andwherein the crimping tool is removably coupled with the crimpingapparatus.

In accordance with another embodiment, a crimping apparatus having a dieassembly includes a frame member, a pressure applying device coupled tothe frame member, and a crimping tool removably coupled to the framemember, where the crimping tool has a first and second member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an embodiment of an crimping tool of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional drawing of an embodiment of a crimping toolof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of an embodiment of a crimpingsystem of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a crimping tool 100 for use with a crimping apparatus 300(shown in FIG. 3), having a first member 102 and a second member 104.

The second member 104 is adjustably connected to the first member 102and is positionable to adjust the height of the crimping tool 100.Indicia 106 are provided to show the amount of adjustment through coarseadjustment indicia 108 and fine adjustment indicia 110, as describedhereinafter.

The second member 104 has a graspable surface 112, such as knurling,wrench flats, tacky surface, or knobs to index the second member 104relative to the first member 102. In the embodiment shown the graspablesurface 112 is a knurled surface around the circumference and disposedpartially down the outer periphery from the top surface 116 of thesecond member 104.

The fine adjustment indicia 110 are shown in the embodiment as areference mark 118 and an annular scale 120. The reference mark 118,shown in the embodiment as a line, is marked on the outer periphery ofthe first member 102. Alternatively, the reference mark could be acarrot mark, arrow, indentation, hole, or any other means of making areference mark.

The annular scale 120, which is disposed around the outer periphery ofthe second member 104, includes graduations 124 at predeterminedintervals extending from adjacent the bottom surface 122 partiallytowards the top surface 116 of the second member 104 and in the axialdirection of the second member 104. As the second member 104 is rotatedaround the first member 102 the graduations 124 align to the referenceline 118. Each graduation 124 is scribed with a corresponding numericalvalue. For exemplary purpose, the graduations 124 are scribed in 0.05increments with a range of 0 to 1.00.

In the embodiment shown, the coarse adjustment indicia 108 are that of alinear scale 126. The linear scale 126 is marked on the outer peripheryof the first member 102. The linear scale 126, having graduations 128 atpredetermined intervals, extends in the axial direction of the firstmember 102 and adjacent the reference mark 118. The first graduation130, showing the minimum height of the crimping tool 100, aligns withthe bottom surface 122 of the second member 104 when abutment is madebetween the top face 132 of the first member 102 and abutment surface134 of the second member 104.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the crimping tool 100 andincludes a die assembly 212. For exemplary purposes, FIG. 2 furthershows a die biasing member 214 and a retaining member 216 in acooperative arrangement to support and position the die assembly 212 inrelation to the first member 102. The die biasing member 214 andretaining member 216 are illustrated in the embodiment as a spring andsnap ring, respectively, but could be any known arrangement that wouldsupport and eject the die assembly 212 after a crimping operation. Thedie biasing member 214 includes a support member 219, having a topsurface 221 that abuts with the die assembly's bottom surface 223 andrests on the spring. The first member 102 includes a stepped counterbore218 from adjacent the bottom surface 224 of the first member 102 andextending partially in the axial direction towards the top face 132 ofthe first member 102. The partially extending stepped counterbore 218steps radially inwardly forming a counterbore face 225. A tapered bore236 outwardly tapers from adjacent the counterbore face 225 to adjacentthe top face 132 of the first member 102. The counterbore face 225provides an abutment for the die biasing member 214. Intermediate of thecounterbore 218 a groove 222 is formed to accept the retaining member216. The die biasing member 214 is held in relation to the first member102 by the retaining member 216 and the counterbore face 225.

The crimping tool 100 includes an adjustment mechanism 202, such asthreads, detents, cylinder, or automatic methods, for variably adjustingthe height of the crimping tool 100. In the embodiment shown, the secondmember 104 is threadably attached to the first member 102 by theinternal threads 204 of the second member 104 rotatably engaging theexternal threads 206 of the first member 102. Alternatively, the firstand second member 102,104 could have a thread pattern opposing theaforementioned.

The die assembly 212 includes a plurality of die fingers 226 equallyspaced in a circumferential manner around the workpiece. The individualdie fingers 226 are separated and retained by a unitary retention band230. Each die finger 226 has an inner forming surface 232, defining theworkpiece's crimped form, and an outer camming surface 234, which istapered to substantially match the tapered bore 236 of the first member102 to position the die assembly 212 in the first member 102.

FIG. 3 shows the crimping apparatus 300, which includes a frame 302, apressure applying device 304 coupled to the frame 302, the crimping tool100, and die assembly 212. In the embodiment shown the crimpingapparatus 300 is that of a portable type. Alternatively, any crimpingapparatus 300, such as benchtop type, or production press that includesthe aforementioned elements could be used. The pressure applying device304 shown is a hydraulic cylinder type, but alternatively a pneumaticpress, electric press, screw press, lever press, or any suitablepressure applying device could be used. The crimping apparatus 300includes a bottom plate 306 structured to accept the crimping tool 100.The bottom surface 224 of the first member 102 is removably coupled tothe bottom plate's 306 pressing surface 310 and positioned to axiallyalign with the pressure applying device 304.

The pressure applying device 304 includes a ram 312 attached to the rodend 314 of a rod 316 of the pressure applying device 304. A ram bore 318defines a center cavity of the ram 312 and creates a aperture 320 in theram face 322. The ram face 322 is generally parallel to the top surface116 of the second member 104 and substantially overlaps the secondmember 104 and die assembly 212 top surfaces 116,324, as not tointerfere with workpieces (not shown) protruding out of the die assembly212.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is intended to provide a crimping tool 100 usedwithin a crimping apparatus 300 for crimping a workpiece (not shown),such as, crimping a coupling to a hose.

The die assembly 212 is positioned in the crimping tool 100 by matchingthe camming surface 234 of the die assembly 212 and the tapered bore 236of the first member 102. The bottom surface 223 of the die assembly 212rests on the top surface 221 of the support member 219 of the diebiasing member 214. A workpiece is placed in the center of the dieassembly 212, adjacent the inner forming surface 232 of the die fingers226.

The pressure applying device 304 uses a ram 312 to apply pressure to thetop surface 324 of the die assembly 212. As the ram 312 pushes the dieassembly 212 into the first member 102, the camming surface 234 and thetapered bore 236 forces the die fingers 226 inward, in turn, collapsingthe space provided by the unitary retention band 230. The die fingers226 apply equal compression around the circumferentially outer surfaceof the workpiece, which reduces the diameter of the workpiece. Thepositive movement of the die assembly 212 in the crimping tool 100determines the crimped diameter of the workpiece. Positive movement ofthe die assembly 212 is stopped when the ram face 322 abuts the topsurface 116 of the second member 104. The height of the crimping tool100, which is the relationship between the second member 104 and thefirst member 102, pre-determines the crimped diameter of the workpiece.The embodiment shown allows the crimped diameter to be consistent,regardless of the type of pressure applying device 304 and stroke of theram 312.

To vary the height of the crimping tool 100, the second member 104 isthreaded onto the first member 102. By rotating the second member 104clockwise or counter-clockwise the height of the crimping tool 100decreases or increases, depending on the orientation of the threads. Byreading the coarse adjustment indicia 108 and the fine adjustmentindicia 110, an operator can set an applicable height of the crimpingtool 100. The embodiment, as described herein, allows the crimping tool100 to be adaptable to multiple die assemblies 212, in turn, reducingthe number of pieces needed to complete a wide range of jobs.

Upon the release of the pressure being applied to the die assembly 212,the die biasing member 214, which is applying a responsive force, pushesthe die assembly 212 out of the crimped position. In turn, freeing theworkpiece to be removed.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtainedfrom a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

1. A crimping tool used with a crimping apparatus, comprising: a firstmember having a die receiving portion; a second member being connectablewith said first member; and wherein said crimping tool is removablycoupled with said crimping apparatus.
 2. The crimping tool as set forthin claim 1, including a die biasing member.
 3. The crimping tool as setforth in claim 1, wherein said second member includes an adjustmentmechanism to adjust the height of the crimping tool.
 4. The crimpingtool as set forth in claim 3, wherein said adjustment mechanism includesa threaded portion to connect said first member and said second member.5. The crimping tool as set forth in claim 3, includes indicia forindicating the adjusted height of the crimping tool.
 6. The crimpingtool as set forth in claim 5, wherein said indicia includes visualmarkings on at least one of said first member and said second member. 7.The crimping tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein indicia includes: acoarse adjustment indicia; and a fine adjustment indicia.
 8. Thecrimping tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said coarse adjustmentindicia in provided on said first member: and said fine adjustmentindicia is provided on said second member.
 9. A crimping apparatushaving a die assembly, comprising: a frame member; a pressure applyingdevice coupled to said frame member; and a crimping tool removablycoupled to said frame member, said crimping tool having a first andsecond member.
 10. The crimping apparatus as set forth in claim 9,wherein said crimping tool includes: a first member having a diereceiving portion; and a second member being connectable with said firstmember.
 11. The crimping apparatus as set forth in claim 10, whereinsaid crimping tool includes a die biasing member.
 12. The crimpingapparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second member includesan adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of the crimping tool. 13.The crimping apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said adjustmentmechanism includes a threaded portion to connect said first member andsaid second member.
 14. The crimping apparatus as set forth in claim 12,includes indicia for indicating the adjusted height of the crimpingtool.
 15. The crimping apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein saidindicia includes visual markings on at least one of said first memberand said second member.
 16. The crimping apparatus as set forth in claim15, wherein said indicia includes: a coarse adjustment indicia; and afine adjustment indicia.
 17. The crimping apparatus as set forth inclaim 12, wherein: said coarse adjustment indicia in provided on saidfirst member: and said fine adjustment indicia is provided on saidsecond member.